Hazards/Lightning
Lightning
Lightning is a natural atmospheric electrical discharge that can produce direct physical damage, high transient voltages, electromagnetic interference, and ground potential rise at nuclear power plant sites. Lightning strikes can affect plant electrical systems, instrumentation and control equipment, grounding infrastructure, and offsite power connections, potentially initiating reactor trips and challenging important systems. Lightning activity has been observed to increase in some historically low-risk zones, and digital equipment may be more susceptible to lightning-induced transient voltages than older analog counterparts.
Return to Hazards. | EPRI technical point of contact: Chris Rochon (CRochon@epri.com)
Date last reviewed: 2026-05-07